Council staff to support Wagoners Special Reserve centenary day at Sledmere

East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s museum staff will take part in an open day at the Wagoner’s Museum, Sledmere, on Sunday, 8 September at Sledmere House.
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As well as a small display of a selection of the museum service’s First World War artefacts, there will be the opportunity to talk to staff about the council’s museum sites and services.

If anyone has any East Riding Yeomanry related items that they might want to loan or donate for the council’s own display at the Treasure House in 2014, then the museums team can accept these at the Wagoners event.

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Farm workers of the Wolds were called from harvesting to go to war in the fields of Northern France. It was The Great War and they were among the first to go. All were members of the Wagoners’ Special Reserve, founded by Sir Mark Sykes 6th Bt of Sledmere. They were to drive supplies, their skills with horses and pole wagons invaluable. It was a piece of local history that became a piece of army history.

On Sunday, there will a parade to commemorate these men, the men of the Wagoners’ Special Reserve and what they did.

The parade through Sledmere, past the Wagoners’ Monument, will start at 11am and will be made up of soldiers from 150th (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps; pole wagons pulled by heavy horses, a decorated heavy horse, a pack mule, a WW1 GS wagon and horse ambulance, representatives from the Royal British Legion and Kirkbymoorside Town Band.

Dr David Marchant, the council’s museums registrar, said: “There is an exciting and varied programme of activities for this event and the museums service is pleased to offer its support as part of its commitment to the independent museums of the region.”

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Entry to the grounds of Sledmere House will be free and starting at 1pm there will be events in the ring in front of the house, including a replication with heavy horses and pole wagons of the original figure-of-eight 1913 Driving Competition course. An original WW1 General Service wagon and an original WW1 Horse ambulance will also drive the course. There will be a loading competition with vintage tractors and a final parade.